Studies & Degrees in Cultural Art History

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Have you recently earned a graduate degree in Art History or a related field and are now searching for a program in which to focus your doctoral studies?  Are you interested in the relationship between culture and art that has existed throughout history and the elements of multiculturalism that these artistic works represent?  If so, you may want to consider pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Cultural Art History.  To help you become more acquainted with this degree track, below we will provide some of the key information about the PhD program in Cultural Art History, including a brief course description and a sample of some of the coursework that is typically required for students participating in this program.
 
Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Cultural Art History:  Course Description
 
The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Cultural Art History is a post-graduate-level program that is now being offered by a handful of colleges and universities throughout the world.  For full-time students, the program typically spans three to five years in duration, which includes the required coursework and the time it will take for students to develop and present their dissertation to the program faculty.
 
The PhD in Cultural Art History is designed for students who want to explore the culture significance of art and how the art realm is able to transcend the boundaries of time, culture, place, religion, politics and economics.  Students will study the cultural, creative and historical characteristics that exist in artwork and learn about their importance from a multidisciplinary and multicultural perspective.
 
Although the PhD degree in Cultural Art History is intentionally designed for those who want to pursue a career in the Art History field, the analytical, critical, research and writing skills students will develop while participating in the program may very well appeal to employers across a broad range of industries, and may qualify students to work in fields such as publishing and journalism; education; the law; art galleries; and museums, among others.
 
Doctor of Philosophy in Cultural Art History:  Coursework
 
As it is with most PhD level programs, the exact coursework for the Cultural Art History degree is fairly flexible, enabling students to create their own unique program with the help of their counselor or mentor.  Students will generally choose from a list of approved modules and opt for classes that are directly or indirectly tied to their dissertation topic.  Certain modules, however, are compulsory and must be taken by all students before commencing with their individualized program.  Below is a brief sample of the mandatory courses, as well as the optional modules from which students can choose:
 
Compulsory Modules for the PhD in Cultural Art History
 

• Library Methodology
• Conducting Research in Art History
• Critical Writing in Art History
• Theory and Interpretation of Artistic Works
• Art History and the Business Associated with It
• Museum Practices and Procedures

 
Elective Modules for the PhD in Cultural Art History
 

• Foundations of Cultural Art History
• Cultural History of Art I and II
• The History of Architecture
• History of Photography
• Foundations of Roman and Etruscan Art
• Foundations of Early Christian and Byzantine Art
• Foundation of Arts in the Islamic World
• Foundations of Arts in the Buddhist World
• And many more…

 
As you can see, the elective modules focus on the different types of art (sculpture, paintings, architecture, photography) from different periods (Roman, Early Christian, etc.), allowing students to concentrate and narrow their efforts and gear them toward a particular dissertation topic.